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Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey highlight Lehigh Valley projects that benefit from Bipartisan Infrastructure law

Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey highlighted projects slated for Lehigh Valley because of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure law (BIL) today.

Wolf and Casey highlighted projects that will go out for bid and discussed the benefits coming to regional roads and bridges during an event that was held near the Interstate 78 interchange with Route 61 which is currently being reconstructed under a $125.6 million contract.

“Pennsylvania is greatly benefitting from the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure law,” said Wolf. “We are fortunate to have this funding which is being used to address additional infrastructure needs.”

“We have many meaningful projects that will modernize our infrastructure while creating sustainable, good-paying jobs that will be transformative for our transportation system and our local economies.” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa Batula.

“Thanks to the infrastructure law we are beginning to rebuild our roads, bridges and more vital infrastructure across Pennsylvania, and we are jumpstarting projects that have been put on hold,” Casey said.

“Interstate 78 exchange project and others throughout Berks County and the region will make it easier and safer for Pennsylvanians to travel and commute,” he said. “These construction projects will also create good-paying jobs. We are making progress to rebuild our infrastructure and I will continue to work in Congress to bring infrastructure investments to the Commonwealth.”

The total value of projects under construction this year in PennDOT District 5 covering Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties is approximately $500 million. Overall highlights in the district’s 2022 construction season include:

approximately 116 miles of paving
approximately 31 bridges will be repaired or replaced
approximately 265 miles of roadway will be seal coated

These improvements include projects supported and accelerated by the BIL. In 2022 alone the BIL is bringing at least $50.8 million in additional funding to the District 5 region to be allocated by the department and its local Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organization (MPO/RPO) partners:

Reading Area Transportation Study will receive at least $18.4 million more
Lehigh Valley Transportation Study will receive at least $20.3 million more
Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance will receive at least $12.1 million more

“The BIL will advance multiple projects that may have otherwise been delayed,” said District 5 Executive Michael W. Rebert. “This funding is essential to move these projects forward.”

Notable ongoing projects that will continue this year include:

Project to improve I-78 including patching, milling, paving and bridge preservation in Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton counties, $23.3 million
Reconstructing I-78 between Exit 35 (Route 143/Lenhartsville) and Lehigh County line in Greenwich Township, Berks County, $168.3 million
Reconstruction and widening on I-78, including rehabilitating the bridge over the Schuylkill River and upgrading the Route 61 interchange, in Tilden Township and Hamburg Borough, Berks County, $125.6 million
Intersection improvements on U.S. 222 in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, $26.7 million

Reconstructing and widening of Route 443 in Lehighton Borough and Mahoning Township, Carbon County, $21.2 million

Repairing and resurfacing U.S. 22 in South Whitehall and Upper Macungie townships, Lehigh County, $17.3 million
Installing a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 222, Route 863 and Schantz Road in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, $14.2 million
Milling and paving Route 248 in East Allen Township, Lower Nazareth Township, Upper Nazareth Township, Bath Borough, and Nazareth Borough, Northampton County, $3.4 million
Traffic signal improvements on Route 512 in Bath Borough, Northampton County, $1.2 million
Milling and paving on U.S. 22 in Bethlehem Township, Palmer Township and Wilson Borough and Route 33 in Bethlehem Township and Palmer Township, Northampton County, $13.6 million

Notable projects that are expected to begin this year include:

Resurface Route 562 between Business Route 422/Perkiomen Avenue and Shelbourne Road in St. Lawrence Borough and Exeter Township, Berks County, $1.4 million-$1.6 million (est.)
Resurface Old Route 22 between the Bethel Township line and St. Michaels Road in Upper Tulpehocken, Upper Bern, and Tilden Townships, Berks County, $3.1 million – $3.4 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 737 between Zettlemoyer and Eagle Point roads in Greenwich and Maxatawny townships, Berks County, $2.3 million-$2.5 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 903/North Street between Front and Center streets in Jim Thorpe Borough, Carbon County, $1 million-$1.2 million (est.)

Resurfacing Route 29/Cedar Crest Boulevard from Chestnut Street to Briarwood Lane in Emmaus Borough and Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, $2 million-$3 million (est.)
Replacing Route 329 “Cementon” Bridge over the Lehigh River in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County and Northampton Borough, Northampton County, $13 million-$15 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 873 from Route 309 to Iron Alley in Slatington Borough, North Whitehall and Washington townships, Lehigh County, $3 million-$4 million (est.)
Resurfacing Route 33 between the Northampton County line and Lower Cherry Valley Road in Hamilton and Ross townships, Monroe County, $5.9 million-$6.2 million (est.)

As construction projects are underway in the region, the traveling public can anticipate seeing many work zones and are urged to keep in mind their safety and the safety of highway workers, PennDOT said.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

Apprenticeship programs are on the rise and the state is investing

Apprenticeship programs are growing across the state to help students earn while they learn and provide employers with a stream of workers they need.

Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced awards totaling more than $11 million for 26 apprenticeship programs for occupations in agriculture, manufacturing, health care, IT, education, human services, building trades and more.

“Apprenticeships have been around since the early 1960s,” said David Sload, president and CEO, American Builders and Contractors (ABC), Keystone Chapter. “It’s been the best kept secret out there for more than 40 years.”

The federal government, he said, is channeling money to the states so, therefore; the states are now pushing the programs.

“People traditionally think of the construction trades when they think of apprenticeships, but now we are seeing new programs like culinary arts and the health industry. It’s really growing in all sectors,” Sload said.

“Throughout history, apprenticeships have been a vital and necessary part of career education in certain fields,” Wolf said. “By expanding these important programs to more occupations and industries, we are offering Pennsylvania workers opportunities to train for family-sustaining jobs while helping businesses develop a workforce that will strengthen our economy and our communities.”

The reality, Sload said, is college is not for everyone. “There are career pathways out there that encompass the whole economic landscape.”

While Sload acknowledged there is a need for college, he said apprentices can make $42,000-$48,000 a year with zero debt when they complete the course. And they are ready to work because the training is complete.

“This gives them a step up the societal ladder where they can buy a car or a house instead of paying off loans,” he said.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier – PHOTO/PROVIDED

Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier said the new funding comes at an important juncture for Pennsylvania’s workers and employers alike.

“Today, workers have the power to demand better pay, better benefits and safer working conditions. Pennsylvania’s economic recovery from the pandemic depends significantly on what we do now to respond to those demands,” Berrier said.

“Workforce development is most successful when community members collaborate to develop practical solutions to collective problems,” she said. “The apprenticeship programs funded through PAsmart are precisely the types of solutions we need to meet this moment.”

“We saw a huge increase in the number of people seeking apprenticeships in 2018-19,” Sload said. “The pandemic hurt the numbers, but they are recovering well.”

Pre-apprenticeship programs are growing too. Sload said schools are more aware of the programs and are offering more career awareness to students. Those students who participate earn credit toward the apprenticeship, he said.

Joe Perpigalia, president and CEO, ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, which covers Lehigh Valley, said there wasn’t much reward for school counselors to channel students to apprenticeship programs versus college for years. “Now there is much more talk about it,” he said.

“There used to be a stigma around apprenticeships,” he said. “If you didn’t go to college, you looked to the trades. But that isn’t true anymore. We need to teach math and STEM courses because trades require it.”

Sload said the number of companies offering apprenticeships is up 25% from 10 years ago. “They realize that to build a loyal workforce, they have to pay well and offer benefits and a culture that provides a career pathway,” Sload said.app

Mack Trucks, in collaboration with United Auto Workers Local 677, started the Registered Apprenticeship program in 2001 and oversees it through a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. The facility offers Registered Apprenticeships in four skilled trades: electrical, millwright, layout, and welding. They are also working on adding a fifth occupation.

Thomas Gombos, maintenance manager at Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations, said the program offers the company a way to provide both general skills training and training customized to the facility’s equipment.

“Through customized training, our apprentices build their skill sets working directly with our equipment, enabling them to become very efficient in supporting the Mack Trucks manufacturing facility as they progress through and complete the program,” he said.

The new grants, offered through L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO), are part of Wolf’s PA Statewide Movement for Accountability, Readiness and Training (PAsmart) framework, which is designed to better align education, workforce and economic development initiatives and funding.

In March, the administration also announced a new round of grant funding available to Pennsylvania apprenticeship programs to develop diverse talent pipelines and reach underrepresented populations within the building and construction trades. A total of $1.5 million is available, and applications are due by April 21.

The Wolf Administration established the ATO in 2016 to support and expand registered apprenticeship programs statewide. The office provides outreach, education and technical support to current and prospective apprenticeship program sponsors and apprentices.

The ATO aims to expand the apprenticeship model to non-traditional occupations and ensure apprenticeship opportunities are available to under-represented communities across the commonwealth, Wolf said.

The ATO currently supports more than 17,000 active apprentices, nearly 5,000 new apprentices and more than 1,500 active apprenticeship programs around the Commonwealth.

State Senate Finance Committee approves Corporate Net Income Tax plan

The Pennsylvania State Senate Finance Committee approved legislation (SB 771) to reduce the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) rate, the highest non-graduated rate in the country.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf PHOTO/SUBMITTED –

Gov. Tom Wolf, a former businessman, said the bill would reduce the CNIT from 9.99 to 7.99 percent on January 1, 2023, with a reduction to 6.99 percent in tax year 2026 on a path to 4.99 percent, with the legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks County, and Representative Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery County, to pave the way for new business opportunities, jobs, and a stronger economy.

“In Pennsylvania, our Corporate Net Income Tax is one of the highest in the nation and it’s holding our commonwealth back,” Wolf said. “Businesses are asked to pay more than their fair share; it’s a barrier to new business growth and limiting opportunities for our workers and new student graduates.

“My plan to lower this tax on Pennsylvania’s businesses is an opportunity to support Pennsylvania’s businesses and families, to ensure that students can find good jobs, and to remove barriers to new business and innovation in the commonwealth,” he said.

The bill must pass the Senate and move through the House of Representatives before becoming law.

“Pennsylvania has too many attributes to consistently lose out to other states for investment and job growth, but that’s been the case for too long due in large part to excessively high CNI,” said Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. “If reduced to a more competitive level, we can focus on enacting the policies that will jumpstart our economic recovery, train and retain a globally competitive 21st century workforce.”

According to the governor’s office, Wolf has put Pennsylvania back on track through sound fiscal management. Over the past seven years, his administration has turned a $2-3 billion structural budget deficit into a $2-3 billion budget surplus and built the Rainy-Day Fund to more than $2.8 billion, more than 12,000 times what it was when he took office.

Wolf will be the first governor since Dick Thornburgh, who left office in 1987, to turn over a budget surplus to his successor, the administration said.

In addition to reducing taxes, the legislation would also modernize the current structure to level the playing field for all businesses. Combined, this lower tax rate and modernization will immediately make the commonwealth more competitive with surrounding states and improve the overall business climate.

“It is past time we level the playing field for our Pennsylvania-based businesses,” said Santarsiero. “Fiscally, the commonwealth is in a position right now to improve our corporate tax system and set the stage for a more vibrant economy. The changes we are proposing today will support our local businesses and incentivize new start-ups in Pennsylvania.”

“Next year, when the CNIT is cut to 7.99%, over 95% of corporations will be held harmless or will get a tax cut, said Daley. “That leaves only five percent of corporations that will have a higher tax bill; and that would be the corporate taxpayers who do business inside and outside of Pennsylvania.”

Lehigh University among 17 schools chosen for Manufacturing PA grants

Lehigh University in Bethlehem. PHOTO/FILE –

Lehigh University is one of 17 colleges in the state to receive grants totaling $2.3 million through the Manufacturing PA initiative, Gov. Tom Wolf said today.

The initiative is funding 36 student research projects that will help advance innovation in several sectors of manufacturing, from 3D printing to waste sustainability, to autonomous navigation and more, Wolf said.

Lehigh University is working with Dynalene Inc. to develop economical chloride blends that are minimally corrosive to stainless steel alloys for renewable energy applications, said Animesh Kundu, principal research scientist in Lehigh’s Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.

The chloride salt blends are identified to be optimal for next generation concentrated solar power plants (Generation 3) but cannot be deployed in applications because of their extreme corrosive behavior towards most metals and metallic alloys including the common materials of construction in solar power plants, he said.

The research team has developed an additive package for appropriate chloride salt blends that are minimally corrosive towards stainless steel alloys, he said. The chemicals in the additive package react with stainless steel in presence the chloride salt blends at high temperatures forming a ceramic oxide coating on the stainless-steel surface exposed to the molten chloride salts.

“Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry has seen continued growth and innovation, and I am amazed at the work these students and companies do,” Wolf said. “My administration continues to be committed to providing funding to students involved in this important industry. I am proud to fund these 36 projects and look forward to seeing what they create.”

The approved projects are part of Manufacturing PA’s fellowship program. The program embeds the commonwealth’s best and brightest graduate and undergraduate students with local manufacturers, Wolf said.

Once paired, the students embark on research projects to develop new technologies and advance innovation statewide.

Universities that have partnered with a manufacturer can apply for and receive between $25,000 and $70,000 in funding for specific student research projects.

In addition to Millersville, the 36 projects awarded grants are involved in partnerships with local manufacturing companies and the following Pennsylvania colleges:

Bucknell University

Carnegie Mellon University
Drexel University
Gannon University
Millersville University
Pennsylvania State University – Behrend

Pennsylvania State University – Berks
Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University
Robert Morris University
Temple University

Thomas Jefferson University
University of Pittsburgh
Villanova University
Widener University
York College of Pennsylvania.

Neil Weaver, acting secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) joined Rick Lucas, chief technology officer of ExOne, and others in Harrisburg to celebrate these grants today.

The fellowship was developed through collaboration with Pennsylvania’s seven research institutions, manufacturers, and industrial resource centers (IRCs) across the commonwealth and is administered by DCED and Carnegie Mellon University.

Since its inception in 2018, the fellowship has granted $9.8 million to 409 students across the commonwealth. About 117 companies located across the commonwealth have benefited from the partnerships this fellowship has provided.

Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative ensures that training leads not simply to any job, but to careers that provide higher pay and opportunities for advancement.

Working with DCED’s strategic partners, including IRCs, Pennsylvania’s colleges, universities, technical schools, and non-profit organizations, this initiative fosters collaboration and partnerships to accelerate technology advancement, encourage innovation and commercialization, and build a 21st century workforce, the governor’s office said.

Agricultural research proposals sought by state

The state Department of Agriculture is looking for research proposals on sustaining and growing Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.

Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding PHOTO/PROVIDED

“Agriculture bears the brunt of the impact of complex challenges with no simple solutions,” said Russell Redding, secretary. “Research is the first critical step toward managing the costly and complex challenges of today and developing innovative solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.”

In October 2021, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the most recent round of more than $2 million in agriculture research funding.

These grants are helping to increase understanding and control animal and plant diseases and pests; increase farm productivity along with regenerative and organic methods that enrich and sustain the soil and water resources; advance human and animal medicine; apply emerging technology in food safety; and protect pollinators crucial to the food supply, Redding said.

The agriculture department is looking for proposals for research topics including animal health and welfare and its interactions with human and environmental health; study of the impacts of mental health challenges on farm success, the availability of on-farm housing for farm workers, and strategies for recruiting and retaining an agriculture workforce; and consumer research on the appeal of biodegradable packaging and new uses for milk proteins and milk-based products.

Additional research topics include studies of the economic impacts of pest infestations; water and soil management practices on farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that have not received state or federal funding; and programs and initiatives in the PA Pollinator Protection Plan and the PA Farm Bill.

Full proposal guidelines can be found in the PA Bulletin.

In his 2022-’23 budget, Wolf proposed $2.187 million to fund agricultural research under this program. The amount available to fund grant proposals is dependent on the amount funded in the final budget. The grants do not require matching funds.

Proposals must be submitted online using the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Electronic Single Application.

Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 PM on Friday, May 13, 2022. Applicants who have questions may contact Morgan Sheffield at [email protected] or 717.787.3568.

NCC to use state grant to offer new course for low-income students and veterans

Northampton Community College (NCC) will receive more than $50,000 state funding to develop a new Precision Machining program for low-income students, veterans and others in Lehigh Valley.

Gov. Tom Wolf today said the funding is through the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career (MTTC) grant.

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Acting Secretary Neil Weaver PHOTO/PROVIDED –

“I’m proud to support Northampton Community College’s Precision Machining program,” Wolf said from his office. “This is one of many programs at the college that helps put well-trained, skilled candidates out in the workforce quickly and pairs good, steady jobs with those who need them.”

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Acting Secretary Neil Weaver joined NCC and other officials at the Fowler Family Southside Center, 511 East Third Street, Bethlehem this morning to outline the funding and tour an existing manufacturing training program that previously received funding.

NCC was awarded $50,252 through the MTTC program to implement Precision Machining, an eight-week, 250-hour program that will teach the safe handling and operation of machining tools most used in the manufacturing industry.

Recruitment will target individuals who are low-income, lack basic technology skills, or are unemployed due to the pandemic, and veterans, career changers, or out-of-school youth who have no post-graduation plans or have changed their plans due to the pandemic.

“All of us at NCC are delighted with the ongoing support and interest shown by DCED in our Industrial Skills training programs,” said Lauren Loeffler, NCC vice president of Workforce Development and Community Education.

“With the funding provided, we have been able to run several successful programs that address the needs of our citizens and local employers looking for well trained and vetted entry level employees,” she said. “Many of our students are individuals that face barriers to employment, unskilled, under-skilled, unemployed, or career changers.”

The program is slated to begin in July and will serve at least ten students. Of the ten students enrolled, no fewer than eight will complete at least one National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credential and at least seven will complete the entire program.

The seven students completing the program are expected to obtain entry-level employment in manufacturing or continue their education at post-secondary institutions within one month of completion.

In addition to discussing the funding award during his visit to NCC, Weaver toured the Industrial Skills for Manufacturing training program, which received a MTTC grant last year. The Industrial Skills for Manufacturing program, which began in July 2021, partners with regional manufacturers to identify and teach missing essential, technical and employability skills that prepare individuals with barriers for immediate, entry-level employment in manufacturing.

“It’s wonderful to see NCC’s manufacturing training programs in action,” said Weaver. “These trainees are eager to enter Pennsylvania’s workforce and begin manufacturing careers, and it’s great to see first-hand the types of training they are receiving to be able to excel in the industry.”

Training program offers students insight into link between agriculture and manufacturing careers

Students in Berks and Chester counties can explore the link between agriculture and manufacturing careers through Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Program (MTTC).

Gov. Tom Wolf this week announced new funding for the Chester County Economic Development Foundation (CCEDF), through MTTC to create the program.

“Highlighting the connection between agricultural and manufacturing careers not only readies high school students for the workforce, it also broadens their horizons and helps them discover new career possibilities,” Wolf said. “CCEDF’s program will inspire a new generation as it exposes them to how these two key industries work together to employ Pennsylvanians each year.”

CCEDF was awarded $200,000 to create the “Bridging Agriculture and Manufacturing in Berks and Chester Counties” program. The program leverages CCEDF’s AgConnect and Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties Industry Partnerships to develop, deliver, and evaluate career awareness and exploration in manufacturing for students at Kutztown, Octorara, Oley Valley, and Owen J. Roberts high schools.

As part of the new program, students will gain real-world experiences specific to agriculture and manufacturing outside the classroom by participating in career showcases, workplace readiness programs, and “Circuit Days” where they will visit multiple manufacturers in one day.

“CCEDF and AgConnect have been serving the agriculture community for more than a decade by providing workforce training, financing, and business services, and engaging our future workforce through career exploration programs,” said Gary Smith, CEO of CCEDF.

“However, as technology continues to increase, we realize that many of the available jobs in agriculture are in manufacturing,” he said. “We are excited to showcase the breadth and depth of career options, increasing student opportunity and helping ensure farming and manufacturing can thrive in our region for years to come.”

Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative was launched in October 2017, and since then has funded 66 projects and invested more than $14.8 million through the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant program.

Training-to-Career grants support projects that result in short-term work-readiness, job placement, or the advancement of manufacturing, the governor’s office said.

Bowery Farming brings indoor vertical farming to Bethlehem

Agriculture is growing up.

Vertically, that is.

Bowery Farming, a company started by Irving Fain in 2015, is opening an indoor vertical farming operation in Bethlehem in May.

Parsley is being grown at a Bowery Farming indoor vertical farm. PHOTO/PROVIDED –

The farm, opening in a new, state-of-the-art 150,000-square-foot facility on an 8.7-acre former brownfield site, will employ 70 “modern” farmers to run the fully automated commercial farm that will provide lettuce, green leafy vegetables and, in the future, strawberries and other berries to the 49 million people in a 200-mile radius, said Katie Seawell, chief commercial officer for Bowery Farms.

The New York-based company has two operating farms, one in Kearny, New Jersey, and the other in Nottingham, Maryland. Seawell said the Bethlehem farm will be the largest, most technologically advanced commercial farm in the company’s network.

“Controlled environmental agriculture is an emerging category,” she said. “Greenhouses have been around for a long time, but vertical farming takes up less space and produces much more.”

The company created BoweryOS, a proprietary system which integrates software, hardware, sensors, computer vision systems, machine learning models and robotics to orchestrate and automate the entirety of operations, Seawell said.

“We stack crops from floor to ceiling and use LED lighting that mimics sunlight,” she said. The BoweryOS system can change the amount of sunlight needed for each type of plant being grown.

Plants are grown 365 days a year and are rotated so the seedlings are being started as other plants are maturing.

Butterhead lettuce is reaching maturity at Bowery Farming indoor vertical farm. PHOTO/PROVIDED –

“We choose sites in urban areas, so the produce doesn’t have to travel far to get to the markets,” Sewell said. “We started the first seeds two weeks ago [in Bethlehem] and will be ready to go commercial in the next few months.”

The beauty of indoor vertical farming, besides taking up much less room, is that there are no pests, so no pesticide is needed.

“We meet all food safety standards, a core of our operation,” she said.

“The BoweryOS system is the brain of the farm. With the integrated sensors, we can capture data that tells us what the plants need.” She said each crop requires different amounts of light, water, airflow and nutrients.

“We can produce quality, flavor and yield with precision,” she said. “It’s like a game of Tetris.”

The indoor vertical farm structure allows Bowery Farming to use less water than traditional farms because the water is recaptured using a HVAC system. Seawell explained that as plants mature, they give off water that is collected and recycled.

“The United Nations said by 2050 there will be nine to 10 million people to feed,” she said. “That means we will need 50% more food than we do today. In order to meet that demand, we would have to convert our forests into agriculture. That’s not good for the planet.”

The Bowery Farming model, she said, will play an important role in creating enough food safely and more sustainably.

In addition to growing food in smaller spaces, Seawell said the crops mature in 25 to 30 days instead of the two to three months it takes on traditional farms. It takes the company 48 to 72 hours to harvest and deliver the food to the market.

That, she said, is a “stark contrast” to the 90% of leafy greens grown in the U.S., which are transported more than 3,000 miles to consumers on the East Coast.

Since the beginning of 2020, Bowery has expanded from 100 to more than 1,000 major grocery stores in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Albertsons Companies (Safeway and Acme), Amazon Fresh, Giant Food, Walmart, Wakefern, Weis, Whole Food Markets, and specialty grocers. It also sells on ecommerce platforms like Amazon and Fresh Direct.

“Pennsylvania welcomes Bowery Farming to our commonwealth’s rich and diverse agriculture industry and looks forward to supporting the company’s growth as it reimagines how farming can be more sustainable and impactful to our communities,” said Gov. Tom Wolf.

“Bowery’s expansion will generate new opportunities by establishing this technologically advanced indoor vertical farm and will create new year-round sustainable jobs and a chance to address food insecurity throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania,” he said.

Bowery Farming received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $210,000 Pennsylvania First grant and $50,000 in grant funding for workforce training, Wolf said.

The company has been encouraged to apply for a Neighborhood Assistance Enterprise Zone Tax Credit (NAP-EZP).

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team.

Bowery Farming is also ready to launch new farms in the first quarter of 2023 in the Atlanta, Georgia and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas metro areas.

$225 million Act 2 funds to be used to retain and recruit health care workers

The Wolf Administration today said the $225 million appropriation in Act 2 of 2022 will be used to retain and recruit health care workers and further help nurses pay for education.

This legislation received bi-partisan support in the General Assembly, and Gov. Tom Wolf signed it into law in January.

Funding will come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and will be distributed to eligible hospitals and behavioral health providers across the commonwealth.

“Front line workers are the heroes in this pandemic, and they deserve our thanks and support,” said Meg Snead, acting secretary, Department of Human Services.

“This funding will allow health care centers and individuals to start to rebuild from the ongoing financial effects of the pandemic and recruit and retain staff who are vital to keeping our communities healthy and safe,” she said.

In recent months, Pennsylvania’s health care workforce has been under extreme stress as hospitals and health care facilities reach and exceed capacity while seeing patients with higher levels of acuity, according to the administration.

Staffing shortages and high numbers of patients have contributed to community and psychiatric hospitals reaching capacity and needing to divert patients to other equally burdened facilities.

In response, hospitals and health care systems asked the commonwealth for funding specifically for recruitment and retention of key personnel.

Act 2 of 2022 appropriated $225 million to support the following health care areas:

$100 million to be distributed to acute care, critical access, and children’s hospitals licensed by the Department of Health on a per-bed basis. The funding will be used strictly for recruitment and retention payments to direct care staff.
$110 million to be distributed on a per-bed basis to high-Medical Assistance hospitals, designated Critical Access Hospitals, and inpatient and residential behavioral health facilities for recruitment and retention payments to key staff.

$15 million to quadruple the funds available for the nurse loan forgiveness program at Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), a high-demand program which has already received more than 20,000 applications by the March 1 deadline.

“We are working together with hospitals and health systems to support the healthcare heroes who have been battling COVID-19 and enhance recruitment and retention efforts so that care is available for everyone who needs it,” Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said.

“The Wolf Administration remains steadfast in securing crisis support by expanding regional testing opportunities, deploying strike teams and establishing regional support sites to provide additional hospital capacity,” she said.

Australian manufacturer to hire 130 at new Allentown facility

Gov. Tom Wolf said today an Australian manufacturer will create 130 new jobs at its first U.S. facility in Allentown.

Easy Signs, Inc., a manufacturer of high quality digitally printed signage, has leased a 72,000-square-foot facility at 7346 Penn Drive in Upper Macungie Township. Easy Signs anticipates a soft product launch at the beginning of May, with a full launch by July. Hiring for the new location will begin as early as March.

“Pennsylvania’s friendly business climate and manufacturing excellence is well-known internationally,” said Wolf. “Manufacturing has long been a key part of the commonwealth’s economy and we have much to offer the industry, from our skilled workforce to prime northeast location, and more. Easy Signs’ choice to locate their first U.S. manufacturing operation here speaks volumes about the commonwealth and I’m thrilled to welcome them to Pennsylvania.”

Easy Signs, headquartered southwest of Sydney, Australia, has seen increased sales to the U.S. and is opening their first U.S. manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania to continue that growth.

“We have spent years building Easy Signs into a customer centric, ultra-efficient manufacturing company. With a focus on technology and continual innovation we knew it would one day be ready to launch into a much larger market such as the U.S. That day has now arrived, and we are thrilled to be establishing in Allentown,” said Andy Fryer, co-founder of Easy Signs. “We look forward to creating a wide range of jobs for Pennsylvanians in the Lehigh Valley and developing a facility and culture that allows people to enjoy coming to work each day.”

Easy Signs received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $225,000 Pennsylvania First grant, a $75,000 workforce development grant to help train workers, and a $1 million loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA).

The company was also encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program. Easy Signs has committed to investing more than $2.8 million into the project and creating 130 full-time jobs over the next three years.

Easy Signs manufactures high quality digitally printed signage using the latest technology. Over the last 10 years, Easy Signs has invested in the latest state of the art machinery to ensure they supply consistent, high-quality products at the lowest cost. The company has been exporting to the U.S. since 2019.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania and DCED’s Office of International Business Development, which offers both export and foreign direct investment assistance to help companies grow in the commonwealth.

“We’re pleased to welcome Easy Signs to the Lehigh Valley and were glad to work with them to help identify sites and provide economic data about the region,” said Don Cunningham, president & CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).

“Manufacturing is the second-largest sector of the Lehigh Valley economy, and our region is attractive for international companies seeking a presence in the United States due to our prime northeast location, talented workforce, and excellent transportation infrastructure,” he said. “Businesses from many countries have made the Lehigh Valley their home, and I’m sure Easy Signs will find the Lehigh Valley a perfect fit for its first U.S. manufacturing operation.”

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest receives state support for COVID patients

Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter Friday said a health care strike team was sent to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest to support staff still dealing with COVID-19 patients.

In all, two additional state-directed healthcare strike teams and another long-term care regional support team are providing requested assistance for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities caring for patients with COVID-19.

“We are thankful for this partnership with the state as we continue to care for COVID-19 and other patients and as hospitals and health networks across the country face staffing challenges,” said Luis Puentes president, LVH–Hecktown Oaks campus and vice president, Operations and Public Safety at Lehigh Valley Health Network said. “We are also eternally grateful for the dedication and resilience of our staff throughout this pandemic.”

“The Wolf Administration continues to follow through on efforts initiated during the most recent surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations,” Klinepeter said. “While we are seeing cases and hospitalizations trending downward, we know that healthcare workers and hospitals are still caring for a high number of patients. We are providing assistance as it is requested, needed and available.”

The teams are on a two-week deployment and vary in size and scope based on the daily needs of the facilities. They include registered nurses and respiratory therapists provided through General Healthcare Resources (GHR) under a contract with the Department of Health.

The facility will receive clinical and non-clinical support staff to allow for more rapid discharge of patients from area hospitals, when clinically safe to do so, freeing additional acute care space to meet COVID demands. GHR will provide clinical staff, including RNs, LPNs and CNAs; Pennsylvania National Guard will provide non-clinical staffing to support the facility’s existing staff; and PEMA will assist in the coordination.

“The Department of Health is continually working with hospitals to evaluate the need and provide resources to help ensure hospitals and healthcare workers are not overwhelmed so that anyone in the community who needs care can get it,” Klinepeter said.

These efforts are part of the Wolf Administration’s multi-layered initiative to support Pennsylvania’s healthcare staffing shortage amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

State-directed staffing assistance is separate from the federal strike teams currently deployed to hospitals in Scranton and York. Both teams are slated to conclude their work in early March.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System fuels economy while strengthening food security

Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Cheryl Cook highlighted the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System’s (PASS) success in strengthening food security and the state’s economy today with Feeding Pennsylvania.

Cheryl Cook, Deputy Secretary for Market Development with the Dept. of Agriculture. –

Under the Wolf Administration, PASS has distributed more than 22 million pounds of surplus food from farmers to Pennsylvanians in need, while simultaneously generating more than $39 million in economic output, she said.

The Economic Impact of PASS reports that for every $1 million dollars invested into PASS, the program generates more than $2 million in additional economic impact. With an additional $2 million in funding proposed for the 2022-23 budget year, Gov. Wolf’s $4.5 million investment would equate to nearly $9 million in economic output over the next year, supporting the farm economy and jobs while ensuring fresh, locally produced foods reach Pennsylvanians in need.

“We cannot have a charitable food system without a food system that is charitable. Gov. Wolf’s commitment to PASS ensures farmers can share their excess harvest with Pennsylvanians in need at no cost,” Cook said, speaking at Garden of Health Inc. Food Bank, Harleysville. “In return, these investments are strengthening the economy by supporting businesses and jobs associated with food harvest, transportation and processing. PASS is a great example of how strategic investments are facilitating charitable donation, feeding hungry Pennsylvanians, strengthening public-private partnerships and stimulating economic growth across the commonwealth.”

Garden of Health Inc. Food Bank is one of more than 175 farms which would benefit from Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed $4.5 million investment into PASS for the 2022-23 budget.

PASS connects the nonprofit sector to farms and food processors to help solve problems of hunger and food waste. The program funds the harvest, transport, processing and packaging of surplus food from Pennsylvania farms that is either intentionally planted for donation or would otherwise go to waste. Food is then distributed to families in 67 counties through a contract with Lemoyne-based Feeding Pennsylvania and a network of thirteen regional, charitable food distributors.

“PASS is a critical program that supports farmers and processors while getting nutritious Pennsylvania-produced food to the tables of food-insecure families. But with 53,000 farms in Pennsylvania, we can and should do more,” said Jane Clements, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania. “We are grateful for the additional support from the administration, and we will continue to utilize PASS funding to combat hunger in the Commonwealth and strengthen relationships with Pennsylvania producers, like Garden of Health.”

More than 80 different Pennsylvania-produced foods have been sourced from 175 farmers, processors, and growers across the state. The foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, and other items that are often difficult for food pantries to obtain.

According to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap report, in 2019, more than 1.35 million Pennsylvanians – 10.6% of all state residents – didn’t always know where their next meal was coming from. In 2021, as a result of the pandemic, Feeding America estimates that 1.54 million Pennsylvanians are facing food insecurity, an estimated 12%, diminishing some of the gains made in previous years.

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